ROCKFORD — Even as home values continue to sink, property taxes could rise slightly as the Rockford City Council considers next year's levy.

The council could ask for up to 1.7 percent more than last year, which is the rate of inflation and high enough that the average homeowner would pay more in taxes even though the value the average home value here fell 7.3 percent last year.

The council will decide in the next few weeks how much to levy. The decision must come by the end of December. The city's Finance Committee is weighing its options and has asked the Finance Department to prepare a breakdown of what increasing the levy would cost the average homeowner and what freezing the levy or lowering it would cost the city.

City officials are expecting a $567,000 deficit next year with the full levy. If the council opts to keep the levy the same or lower it, that deficit would grow and more cuts to services or personnel would be needed to balance the budget, Finance Director Chris Black said.

"It's the same thing you always hear at this time of the year — you can either increase revenue or reduce expenses on the other end," Black said.

The levy increase would raise about $433,000 for the city.

If the council opts to ask for the full levy increase, here's how the math works out:

The owner of a $100,000 house paid $939 in property taxes to the city last year. The homeowner's actual tax bill was much higher — after adding the tax rates of the county, forest preserve, township, library, airport, water district, community college and, especially, the school district, the bill climbs to $4,301.

But, $939 is the amount the city taxed.

That house, if its value fell the average amount that property values fell in Rockford, is now estimated to be worth $92,700 and the owner would pay $948 to the city, a $9 or less than 1 percent increase, if the council adopts the levy increase. If that house somehow didn't lose any value and is still worth $100,000 today, the tax bill would climb to $1,022, an 8.9 percent increase.

The magic number to find out if you, specifically, would pay more or less next year if the levy is raised is 8.1 percent. If your property value has decreased by at least 8.1 percent, you will likely pay less in Rockford property taxes next year than you did this year, even with the rate increase. Everyone else would pay more.

Ald. Venita Hervey, D-5, who chairs the Finance Committee, said aldermen will try move a levy recommendation out of committee on Monday so the full City Council can start debate.

Greg Stanley: 815-987-1369; gstanley@rrstar.com; @greggstanley

ROCKFORD — Even as home values continue to sink, property taxes could rise slightly as the Rockford City Council considers next year's levy. The council could ask for up to 1.7 percent more than last year, which is the rate of inflation and high enough that the average homeowner would pay more in taxes even though the value the average home value here fell 7.3 percent last year. The council will decide in the next few weeks how much to levy. The decision must come by the end of December. The city's Finance Committee is weighing its options and has asked the Finance Department to prepare a breakdown of what increasing the levy would cost the average homeowner and what freezing the levy or lowering it would cost the city.City officials are expecting a $567,000 deficit next year with the full levy. If the council opts to keep the levy the same or lower it, that deficit would grow and more cuts to services or personnel would be needed to balance the budget, Finance Director Chris Black said. "It's the same thing you always hear at this time of the year — you can either increase revenue or reduce expenses on the other end," Black said.The levy increase would raise about $433,000 for the city.If the council opts to ask for the full levy increase, here's how the math works out:The owner of a $100,000 house paid $939 in property taxes to the city last year. The homeowner's actual tax bill was much higher — after adding the tax rates of the county, forest preserve, township, library, airport, water district, community college and, especially, the school district, the bill climbs to $4,301. But, $939 is the amount the city taxed.That house, if its value fell the average amount that property values fell in Rockford, is now estimated to be worth $92,700 and the owner would pay $948 to the city, a $9 or less than 1 percent increase, if the council adopts the levy increase. If that house somehow didn't lose any value and is still worth $100,000 today, the tax bill would climb to $1,022, an 8.9 percent increase.The magic number to find out if you, specifically, would pay more or less next year if the levy is raised is 8.1 percent. If your property value has decreased by at least 8.1 percent, you will likely pay less in Rockford property taxes next year than you did this year, even with the rate increase. Everyone else would pay more.Ald. Venita Hervey, D-5, who chairs the Finance Committee, said aldermen will try move a levy recommendation out of committee on Monday so the full City Council can start debate.Greg Stanley: 815-987-1369; gstanley@rrstar.com; @greggstanley